Pressurized jacket construction for rotating combustion chambers



Oct. 17, 1950 R. H. GODDARD 3 PRESSURIZED JACKET CONSTRUCTION FOR ROTATING COMBUSTION CHAMBERS Filed Dec. 11, 1948 INVENTOR. Rokrf/iGaddard, dii. I fstfier G GodlmtLfieculralr Wjii Mar I In I H I II I I I I I Patented Oct. 17; 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRESSURIZED JACKET CONSTRUCTION FOR ROTATING COMBUSTION CHAMBERS Robert H. Goddard, deceased, late of Annapolis,

Md., by Esther C. Goddard, executrix, Worcester, Mass., assignor of one-half to The Daniel and Florence Guggenheim Foundation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 11, 1948, Serial No. 64,886

4 Claims.

ing combustion chambenand for resisting the outward pressures developed therein.

To the accomplishment of this general object, a stationary outer jacket-or casing is provided, in which counter-pressure is developed by a rapid ly rotated mass of water or other suitable liquid. Improved means is also provided for sealing the intake connections for the combustion liquids.

The invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation of a rotating combustion chamber embodying this invention; and 1 Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of certain parts shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, the rotating combustion chamber comprises opposed conical wall portions l0 and II. The wall portion i0 is mounted on a supporting shaft l2 and the wall portion II is mounted on a discharge nozzle N. The shaft l2 and nozzle N are rotatably supported in suitable bearings l4 and II.

The chamber C is surrounded by a jacket J comprising opposed conical portions and 2| held in spaced relation to the chamber walls In and H by outwardly extending vanes 22 and 23. The walls It and 25 enclose a jacket space S and the walls ii and 2| enclose a jacket space S.

Liquid fuel, as gasoline. is delivered through a pipe 25 and a sealing device 26 to the jacket space S, and a liquid oxidizer is delivered through a pipe 35 and sealing device 3| to the jacket space S.

An annular partition 53 connects the chamber and jacket walls at their adjacent points of greatest diameter and this partition also separates the spaces S and S'. Annular conical flanges 35 and II are provided in the spaces S and S at the outer ends of the vanes 22 and 2!, and these flanges divide the outer portions oi the spaces 8 and 8' into outer and inner annular passages. Spray openings It and ti connect the inner 'annular passages with the combustion chamber.

As the liquid fuel enters the jacket space S through the supply pipe 25 and the sealing device 25, it is rapidly rotated by the vanes 22 and moves outward under centrifugal force. The pressurized liquid then passes around the conical annular flange and through the spray openings 45 to the chamber C.

In similar manner, a liquid oxidizer supplied through the pipe 30 and the sealing device 3| is moved outward through the space S and around the flange 31 to the spray openings 4|. The sprays intersect as indicated in the drawing, and combustion may be started by any usual. igniter, such as a sparkplug 42.

Preliminary rotation of the combustion chamber may be effected by compressed air, supplied throu h one or more nozzles 44 to an annular passage 45 which communicates with a turbine casing 46 having outwardly curved blades 41.

The casing 46 has a portion 48 which projects inwardly into the path of the peripheral portion of the combustion gases discharged through the nozzle N, and the chamber is thus kept in automatic rotation as soon as combustion is well started. The supply of compressed air through the nozzles may then be discontinued.

In order to oilset centrifugal outward pressure on the jacket walls 20 and 2|, a fixed casing be supported on brackets 5| mounted on any suitable foundation F. The casing 50 is partially filled with water W in the space between the casing 50 and the jacket walls, and this mass of water is rapidly rotated by vanes 52 and 53 mounted on the rotating jacket walls 20 and 2|. These vanes rotate with slight clearance inside of the casing 50. Substantial pressure is thus developed in the water space S3, and the outward pressure on the jacket walls 20' and 2| is effectively counterbalanced.

The stationary casing so has axial openings 55 and 56 which clear the axial portions of the jacket walls 20 and 2|. The mass of water W in the casing 50 is limited to less than the amount which would overflow through the openings 55 and 58 when the combustion chamber is at rest.

The detail construction of the sealing device 26 is clearly shown in Fig. 2. The device 25 in part comprises a disc rotating with the shaft l2 and clearing a ilxed cylindrical flange auociated with the supply pipe 25. A oylin drical flange 82 on the inside of the disc it extends into but clears the wall of a circular opening 03 in the fixed casing of the sealing device II. A fiat ring it of carbon or carbonimpregnated material engages the inner face of the rotating disc 6|, and the ring is is connected with the sealing device 20 by a bellows member II. A suitable coil spring I holds the carbon ring '4 a ainst the disc ll.

Liquid fuel supplied under pressure through the pipe II to the sealing device it can escape only between the ring it and the disc I, but the pressure of the liquid acts with the spring 61 tofirmlyseattheringagainstthedisc. Fuel leakage is thus effectually prevented.

On the other side of the pipe 2! an identical sealing construction prevents fuel leakage between a carbon ring I. and a rotating disc H. The sealing devices for the supply pipe 30 at the nomle end of the combustion chamber are identical with those just described and need not be further described. 7

The invent on having been thus set forth, the operation and advantages thereof will be readily apparent. Combustion liquids fed to the spaces 8 and 8' build up centrifugal pressures in said spaces to offset the pressure developed within the walls HI and II by the expanding combustion gases. The centrifugal forces developed in the spaces 8 and S and exerted outward against the jacket walls ll and II are offset by the centrifugal pressure of the water which is rapidly rotated by the vanes 52 and 53 between the walls 2| and II and the stationary outer casing 50. This casing 50 may be of any desired thickness to withstand this centrifugal pressure.

Having thus described the invention and the advantages thereof, it will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what is claimed is:

1. In combustion apparatus having a reversed conical rotating combustion chamber, an inner casing rotating therewith and enclosing sens rated jacket spaces, means to supply combustion liquids to said spaces, means to develop hydraulic pressures by centrifugal force in said spaces. and meanstofeedsaidliquidsfromsaidspacesto said combustion chamber, that. improvement which comprises a fixed outer casing defining an outer jacket space about said inner casing and adapted to contain a portion of liquid, and means to rotate said liquid in said outer jacket space and to thereby develop hydraulic pressure by contriiugal force against said inner casing.

2. The combination in combustion apparatus atsetforthinclaimhinwhichthefixedouter casing is substantially spaced from the rotating inner casing at its end portions, thereby providing annular drain openings adjacent said inner casing, which annular openings prevent overiilling of the fixed outer casing whenthe rotating chamber is at rest.

3. The combination in combustion apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which the inner and rotating jacket casing has a plurality of vanes which rotate in the outer jacket spaces but clear the outer jacket casing.

4. In combustion apparatim having a reversed conical rotating combustion chamber, an inner casing rotating therewith and enclosing separated jacket spaces, means to supply combustion liquids to said spaces, means to develop hydraulic pressures by centrifugal force in said spaces, and means to feed said-liquids from said spaces to said combustion chamber, that improvement which comprises a fixed outer casing defining an outer Jacket space about said inner casing, and centrifugal means to develop hydraulic pressure between said outer and inner casings.

, ESTHER. C. GODDARD, E'secutri: of the Last will and Testament of ,Robert'H. Goddard, Deceased,

No references cited. 

